Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
South Alabama
Baseball Drops 6-5 Decision to South Alabama
02.24.08 | Baseball
Feb. 24, 2008
Box Score
MOBILE, Ala. - The Xavier baseball team dropped a close 6-5 decision to South Alabama in its last game of the 2008 Coca-Cola Classic Sunday afternoon. Senior team captain Robbie Kelley was 2-for-3 on the day and scored three runs while sophomore Zac Richard homered to right field in the sixth to collect two of his three RBIs.
The Musketeers (1-2) started off the noon match-up with the host Jaguars with a two-run first as junior Steve Brown singled up the middle and Kelley was walked. After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Richard grounded out to the short stop and Brown scored. Senior team captain Dan Hayden reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, scoring Kelley.
The Jags (2-1) would get back one of those runs in the bottom of the frame by scoring an unearned run on an XU throwing error. The score remained the same through the bottom of the fourth when USA exploded for four runs. Heading into the fifth, South Alabama held the 5-2 lead.
Xavier scored again in the sixth as Kelley singled to right center and Richard blasted a home run over the right field fence for the last two of his three RBIs of the day to pull XU to within one, 5-4.
South Alabama got one of those runs back in the bottom of the eighth as Ray Kruml reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop and Ryan Bohanan came across the plate, pushing the Jags lead back to two, 6-4.
In the top of the ninth, Kelley scored again on a sacrifice fly by junior Jack Bonnikson but it would not be enough as the Musketeers fell, 6-5.
Brown and Richard were both 2-for-5 at the plate. Sophomore Danny Rosenbaum took the loss, going 4.0 innings and allowed two earned runs while striking out two batters. Junior Brett Greenwell put in three innings of work, allowing one earned run and struck out one. Senior David Hartman closed out the game as he pitched the remaining inning of the contest, striking out one and walking one.
Up next for the Musketeers is a trip to Nashville for the Music City Invitational hosted by Vanderbilt Feb. 29-Mar. 2. XU will face Iowa on the 29th at 1 p.m. at Charles Hawkins Field.
